Youngsters lead the way
Two young guns with no fear will have the chance to lead a Northern Pride revival on one of the biggest days in the club’s esteemed history this weekend. Kienan Grogan-Hayes (above) is set to play his second Intrust Super Cup game and Shawn Bowen is likely to debut on the wing in a 10th anniversary celebration game against Mackay Cutters. “What I have learnt in ... coaching is that young fellas don’t fear nothing,” coach Ty Williams said.
TWO young guns with no fear will have the chance to lead a Northern Pride revival on one of the biggest days in the club’s esteemed history this weekend.
Kienan Grogan-Hayes is set to play his second Intrust Super Cup game and Shawn Bowen is likely to debut on the wing in a 10th anniversary celebration game against Mackay Cutters.
The Pride beat the visitors in their inaugural fixture back in 2008 and in Round 1 this year and coach Ty Williams hopes youthful exuberance will lead to a repeat dose in front of an adoring crowd and statewide TV audience.
The head honcho said he was much more worried on his own debut than the decision to select Mareeba fullback Grogan-Hayes and Mossman/Port Douglas winger Bowen for the Sunday afternoon game.
“What I have learnt in the last six months in coaching is that young fellas don’t fear nothing. It’s completely different from when I debuted,” Williams said.
“I was always worried and thinking about it but mate they take it with a grain of salt. They think it’s just another game of football and that’s probably the most exciting thing about it.
“I have no reserve in picking them. I’ll let them go to get out there and enjoy the occasion, not shelter from it.”
The greats say you can’t coach speed and it is the X-factor of the two newcomers which could solve the Pride’s issues finishing tryscoring opportunities.
Four bombed tries were costly against the Hunters and Williams said with the pressure of having to win every game from now on in, they had to throw caution to the wind.
The Cowboys are stepping in to make sure all the Pride’s entertainment machines will be on deck on Sunday, with Gideon Gela-Mosby fighting a “50/50” careless high tackle charge.
The outside back will miss a week whether they win or lose due to carry-over points from a previous charge in Round 10 against Tweed Heads.
Jared Allen may be available to return from a highankle sprain in any case, although he won’t play unless 100 per cent fit after he “couldn’t feel his toes” in his last match against the Falcons.
It has been confirmed centre Justin Castellaro will miss the rest of the season after a broken collarbone against the Hunters, but the news is better for Javid Bowen, who looks set to miss only two weeks after what was feared to be a seasonending shoulder injury.